Velocipede



(No Model.)

W. J. GROTENHUIS & H. T. SIDWAYi VELOOIPEDE.

Nov 606,541. PatentedJune 28, 1.898.

UNITED "STATES PATENT UFFICE.

WILLIAM J. GROTENHUIS AND HENRY T. SIDWAY, on cII cAeo, ILLINOIS.

VELOCIP'EDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 606,541, dated June 28, 1898.

Application filed April 13, 1897. Serial No.

631,898. (No model-l Patented in England April 27, 1897, No. 10,471, and in France April 27, 1897,110. 266,381.

handle portion-of bicycles, tricycles, and simi lar vehicles, and especially to that class of handles known as flexible or yielding? handles, and has for its object'the' providing" of a simple, economical, and efficient handle.

The invention consists principally in the combination of an elastic metallic core adapted to be secured to the handle-bar of veloci pedes and a fibrous flexible covering for inclosing the same.

The invention consists, further, in the combination of an elastic metallic core formed of a series of elastic metal strips independently and longitudinally arranged, a fibrous flexible casing for inclosing the same, and means for securing the handle portion at one end thereof to the handle-bar.

The invention consists, further and finally, in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is.

an elevation of a handle constructed in ac.-

cordance with our improvements; Fig. 2, a

longitudinal sectional elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a cross-sectional view taken on line 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the elastic metallic core portion; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the cup-shaped end portion; Fig. 6,

or even during short rides, over rough roads experiences a feeling of numbness or cramp in the hands due to the constant succession of small shocks that are transmitted to the hands during the vibrations of the handlebar. It is also well known that during riding the hands of the rider perspire quite freely, which causes excessive friction between the hands and the handle-bar, to the discomfort and annoyance of the rider. Our invention, therefore, is designed principally to overcome these objections by providing a structure such. as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In constructing a handle-bar in accordance with our improvements we provide an elastic core A, formed of a series of independent elastic strips a, longitudinally arranged and secured at one end to a securing-ring a by means of rivets or otherwise.- It will be n0-' ticed that these strips, as suggested, are independent stripsthat is, they are flexibly secured together, so that each and every strip may have'an independent lateral movement, adapting them to yield to hand-pressure and vibrations, and thus .soften the shock to the hand. To flexibly secure these strips together at their opposite free ends and to the handle-bar',we provide a cup-shaped portion B, having a plurality of strips b, forming in one integral portion and which are'preferably,

when considering the base, S-shaped in 1ongitudinal view. The end --of each of these strips of the cup-shaped portion is provided with a notch, slot, perforation, or opening Z),

into which the bayonet-shaped projections a of the longitudinal strips of the core maybe inserted, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, and

slots in the securing-block, which prevents the rotation of such securing block. The securing-block is also provided with a number of indentations 0, into which projections b of the cup-shaped piece maybe inserted to prevent such parts from having independent rotations. The conical wedge is provided with a threaded opening, into which a securing-screw D may be inserted, as shown in Fig. 2, so that by passing such screw through the opening b of the cup-shaped portion and into the threaded opening of the conical wedge the tightening of such screw causes it to secure such parts together and to the handle-bar.

To protect the hands, keep them 0001, and present a finished appearance to the handles, a covering E is provided, formed, preferably, of fibrous or similar material, such as leather or cloth, and is secured to the strips at one end by means of a ferrule e and is passed around into the cup-shaped end portion, as shown at e in Fig. 2, where it is held in position by means ofthe securing-screw. It is further provided with a series of openings 6 in the cup-shaped portion, Where by the compression and expansion of the handle during the riding of the vehicle it acts in the manner of a bellows to exhaust and draw in a fresh supply of air, thus serving to keep the hands cool and prevent in a large measure the usual perspiration.

The advantages of our improvements are, first, that a flexible handle is provided for absorbing the small shocks and vibrations incident to riding, while at the same time it furnishes sufficient rigidity for imparting power to the handle-bar; second, the shape of the end of the handle permits the rider to take hold of that portion in the hollow of his hands and atthe same time provides a cushion to receive shocks and prevent injury to the handlebar during the falling of the wheel, and, third, in a large measure prevents heating of the hands and consequent perspiration.

\Ve claim 1. In a handle-bar for velocipedes, the combination of an elastic core formed of a series of metallic strips longitudinally arranged, a ring for rigidly securing the ends of one portion of the longitudinal strips together, a cupshaped disk flexibly securing the other ends of the metallic strips together, an expanding cylindrical block adapted to be inserted into the handle-bar and provided with one or more indentations, projections on the cup-shaped disk adapted to enter the indentations on the block, and means for securing the cup-shaped disk to the block to expand the same and hold the parts in operative position, sulmtantially as described.

2. In a handle for veloeipedes, the combination of an elastic core formed of a series of metal strips longitudinally arranged and soon red rigidly together at one end by means of a securing-ring and provided with bayonetshaped free ends, a cup-shaped end portion having a series of strips formed integrally with a base portionthe free ends of such strips having indentations perforations or openings adapted to receive the bayonetshaped ends of the metallic strips and flexibly secure the parts together, substantially as described,

\VILLIAM J. GRO'IENHUIS. HENRY 'l. SIDlVAY.

\Vitn esses:

THOMAS F. SHERIDAN, THOMAS I MoGnnoon. 

